Simply Stunning

Why get bogged down by heavy makeup? Now’s the perfect time to let the real you shine through. Here’s how to pare down your routine to get basically beautiful post-run. . .

Ace Your Base

What’s the only beauty product you should never leave home without? Yup, you guessed it—sunscreen. Even if your makeup contains sunblock, start with a base of SPF 30, says Elizabeth K. Hale, MD, clinical associate professor of dermatology, NYU School of Medicine. “Makeup with sunscreen is a nice supplement, but it shouldn’t be your sole layer of protection,” she explains.

Hale likes to start her day with Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray Sunscreen ($10, walgreens.com). The waterproof formula won’t drip away if you work up a sweat, and the spray-on bottle makes it easy to reapply throughout the day over makeup.

If your skin craves moisture, apply a cream atop your screen. Julie Karen, MD, a spokesperson for The Skin Cancer Foundation, recommends lotions with a short list of ingredients like Vanicream SPF 30 ($12, amazon.com). If your skin is break-out prone, opt for the noncomedogenic Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Control Moisturizer ($17, drugstore.com).

Solid Foundation

Another benefit of wearing sunscreen is that it acts as a primer, helping foundation go on smoothly, notes Karen. For light coverage, she likes Shiseido Tinted Moisture Protection with SPF 20 ($38, shiseido.com). You can also use a tip from Lisa Johnson, a makeup artist based in Nashville: Make your own tinted moisturizer by mixing foundation with your favorite face cream.

Do you normally use powder to cover up shine? Skip the puff and simply opt for a foundation that leaves a matte finish. Bare Minerals Foundation with SPF 15 ($26, bareescentuals.com) works well on oily skin and the creamy base tends to last longer than liquid foundation. If your T-zone shines on, try face-blotting papers like e.l.f. Professional Shine Eraser Blotting Sheets ($1, drugstore.com). “You can even use a paper napkin. It absorbs the oil and sweat on your face, but leaves your makeup in place. Blot; don’t wipe,” says Johnson.

Easy on the Eyes

It’s especially important to protect the delicate skin around your eyes. Regular sunscreens can sometimes irritate this area so Karen recommends using sensitive formulations like Clinique Sun SPF 45 Targeted Protection Stick ($19, clinique.com).

Get natural looking lids with a skin-tone shadow. Johnson favors L’Oréal Infallible Eyeshadow in Iced Latte ($8, drugstore.com), a shimmery beige that works with any eye color. Want to add a little evening oomph? Layer with a Midnight Blue shade to create a slightly smoky eye. Finish your look with a waterproof mascara that won’t run down your face when humidity strikes. Try Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara ($7, maybelline.com) in brown instead of black to lighten up your look.

Lip Service

Lips need extra TLC during any season. “You should carry lip balm with SPF and reapply it every two hours,” Karen says. Give the lower lip special attention as it’s a hotbed for metastatic cancer, the type of disease that spreads from the area where it started to other parts of the body. Stay safe and look good with a combo lip color and sunblock like Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster SPF 15 Lip Gloss ($13, trishmcevoy.com).

For days when you’re running or doing outdoor sports, cover up with Banana Boat Performance Lip Balm with SPF 50 ($3, drugstore.com). After dark, consider lips stains, which have the staying power of lipsticks but pack less intense coverage. “You can even add a lip gloss on top. The gloss will wear off eventually but the stain will stay,” Johnson says. Some of her favorites include Revlon Just Bitten ($7, drugstore.com), which includes a lip stain on one end and a balm on the other, Tarte LipSurgence Natural Matte Lip Tint ($24, sephora.com), and Stila Lip and Cheek Stain ($24, stila.com).

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Stephanie Cajigal is a health and beauty writer based in New York City.